'May His Blessings and Peace be yours,
Sent to you from God our Father,
And Jesus Christ our Lord.' (Eph.1:2)
Posted on 11/09/2006 6:49:58 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1>
At this time, when feelings run high, the world seems crazy, and anger seems to be the one thing the peoples of the world have in common, I invite you, my fellow FReepers, to join me in prayers and meditation for guidance, God's help and for our fellow man, for America, our troops, and all our own needs.
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
William Bradbury
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Psalm 46: 1-3
Kitty Mittens,
what a lovely lovely song!
Amen to your prayer and praying for Freeper chemo.
Love in Jesus to you all.
Mic 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Lam 3:26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luk 12:35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
Luk 12:36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Jud 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
OH LORD, I wait upon you to finish the Good Work that you started in me.
I know I can do nothing to save myself.
You have done ALL.
I wait for you as the watchman waits for the morning.
Bring me Light and Salvation.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
YOU ARE HOLY.
YOU ARE WORTHY.
WE MAGNIFY YOUR NAME.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osonogod.htm
O Son of God, we wait for Thee,
In love for Thine appearing;
We know Thou sittest on the throne,
And we Thy Name are bearing,
Who trusts in Thee, may joyful be,
And see Thee, Lord, descending,
To bring us bliss unending.
We wait for Thee ’mid toil and pain,
In weariness and sighing;
But glad that Thou our guilt hast borne,
And canceled it by dying;
Hence cheerfully may we with Thee
Take up our cross and bear it,
Till we relief inherit.
We wait for Thee; here Thou hast won
Our hearts to hope and duty;
But while our spirits feel Thee near,
Our eyes would see Thy beauty;
We fain would be at rest with Thee
In peace and joy supernal,
In glorious life eternal.
We wait for Thee; sure Thou wilt come;
The time is swiftly nearing;
In this we also now rejoice,
And long for Thine appearing.
Oh, bliss ’twill be when Thee we see,
Homeward Thy people bringing,
With transport and with singing!
—Philipp F. Hiller 1699-1769
BTTT
Oh Most Precious Saviour, you lead us in paths of Righteousness for your Name’s sake.
Where you lead me I will follow....
Daily Light on the Daily Path
May 14
Morning
Share his sufferings.
“It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.—“In the world you will have tribulation.”—“Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
I looked for pity, but there was none.—At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”—For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Phil. 3:10; Matt. 10:25; Isa. 53:3; John 16:33; John 15:19; Ps. 69:20; 2 Tim. 4:16; Matt. 8:20; Heb. 13:14; Heb. 12:1, 2 (Read full verses...)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/k/i/kinglove.htm
The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
—Henry W. Baker
BTTT
Bringing my Prayer over from our President's Prayer Thread.
Our Gracious Master,
We come before You Rejoicing in Your Grace, and Thanking You for Salvation in Jesus Christ. You are Awesome, Your Excellency, and Worthy of our Highest Praise. Holy and Righteous are You, our Lord; be Exalted Forever in the Majesty of Your Name.
We Remember our President in Prayer, Thanking You for Being his Peace and Strength. Fill him with Your Wisdom and Insight, Granting him Heaven's Goodness and Might. Help his Soul to Love Only You, and His Heart to Follow the Precepts of our Christ.
Our Gracious Lord, we Praise You for our Military, in Jesus' Name. Thank You, our Father, for Every Life You Bless in Your Grace. We Pray that You will Shine Your Gospel Light through our Troops Day by Day. We Pray for Revival for our Nation, and for Israel's Salvation and Peace. Please, my Loving Shepherd-Lord, Evermore Bless 'the City of the Great King.'
We Pray for Every Good and Perfect Gift to be with Thy Beloved Lambs. Bless those who Lead us in Prayer, and All who Worship in this Place. Grant Healing to All who Need it, our Merciful and Compassionate Lord God.
We Love You, O Father our King, as we Pray in our Jesus' Name, amen.
But Grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be Glory both Now and Forever, amen. (2Pet.3:18)
Open this day my heart, O Lord,
And let me see the truth of my being
Those darknesses I hold in my heart,
The hard places I see without seeing.
Throw open the dark and let in your truth,
The saving touch of your light,
Restore me, make me white as wool,
Clean to stand in your sight.
How often it is that I miss the mark,
Fall short of the way you would send me,
My good intentions crumble like dirt,
As I let in the darkness to bend me.
It is only by clinging here to your cross,
That I can find help for my falling,
Only by standing up and facing my wrongs
Can my life answer your calling.
O help me see clearly where I go wrong,
Bring your light into my life.
Strip away all the veils that I wrap me in,
Thy Spirit sharper than any knife.
O Lord of my life, shape me and mold me,
Forgive me my failings this day.
O cleanse me and make me the way that you would
Make me all yours, this I pray.
BTTT
“I looked for pity, but there was none.—At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.”
Thank you. That’s just how I feel.
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isa 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
LORD GOD I ask that you would reign and rule on earth as you do in heaven.
Let that great day come, of the revealing of the sons of God.
We hunger and thirst for your righteous judgments to be established in the earth.
PRAISE THE LORD.
AMEN.
The LORD Jehovah Reigns
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/j/ljehovar.htm
The Lord Jehovah reigns; His throne is built on high.
The garments He assumes are light and majesty.
His glories shine
With beams so bright no mortal eye
Can bear the sight.
The thunders of His hand keep the wide world in awe;
His wrath and justice stand to guard His holy law.
And where His love
Resolves to bless His truth confirms
And seals the grace.
Through all His mighty works surprising wisdom shines—
Confounds the powers of hell, and breaks their cursed designs.
Strong is His arm,
And shall fulfill His great decrees,
His sovereign will.
And will this mighty King of glory condescend,
And will He write His Name: My Father and my Friend?
I love His Name;
I love His Word. Join, all my powers,
And praise the Lord!
BTTT
The blood that Jesus shed for me,
'Way back on Calvary;
The blood that gives me strength from day to day,
It will never lose its power.
It reaches to the highest mountain,
It flows to the lowest valley,
The blood that gives me strength form day to day,
It will never lose its power.
It soothes my doubts and calms my fears,
And it dries all my tears;
The blood that gives me strength from day to day,
It will never lose its power.
It reaches to the highest mountain,
It flows to the lowest valley,
The blood that gives me strength form day to day,
It will never lose its power.
Grace be with you all. (Titus3:15)
” As the tender dew which falls in the silent night makes the grass and herbs and flowers to flourish and grow more
abundantly than great showers of rain which fall in the day;
so secret prayer will more abundantly cause the sweet herbs
of grace and holiness to grow and flourish in the soul, than all those more open, public, and visible duties of religion, which too, too often, are mingled and mixed with the sun and wind of pride and hypocrisy.”
—John Bunyan, A Discourse of Closet Prayer, 1665
FATHER IN HEAVEN, hear us as we draw near to you.
Kindle in us that heat and fire to seek you.
We can become very cold clay.
Breathe upon us by your Spirit and make us ready for another evening and morning in Jesus Christ.
Help us to bless many by Obedience and Encouragement.
WE ask provision for the needy and comfort for the distressed.
Restore us as we sleep.
You are good and your mercy endures forever.
Amen.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/w/hwhowvbe.htm
Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He’ll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He’ll fear not what men say,
He’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.
—John Bunyan, 1684
'May His Blessings and Peace be yours,
Sent to you from God our Father,
And Jesus Christ our Lord.' (Eph.1:2)
BTTT
The Pain (a revision of something I think I’ve posted before)
Lord,
the pain wraps around us,
throbbing,
throbbing,
like the rhythm
of a beating,
like metal on iron
of the hammer fall hitting nail,
piercing flesh,
going deeper
until it lodges in wood.
The pain,
oh the pain,
a woman crying out in the night
as her loved one is slain,
a man standing in grief
in the bombed storefront rubble,
a child shocked at the blood
from a slashed parent,
the armwrenching agony
as they hauled you with ropes,
arms nailed to the crossbeam
up up to the drop,
white pain electric
tearing through shoulder and arms
as the beam found the mortise,
like the pain of the tortured
screaming beneath their captor’s hands,
crying out as the voltage
streams through their bodies,
throbbing the pain,
through heart and through body
the pain of being stripped here in public
of everything but the pain
and the stares of the gathered
as they gambled,
and witnessed with tears and with laughs,
waiting for the blood to fall
for the last breath to finish
like guards who kept watch
at a starvation ward
waiting for thirst to still his voice,
make an end to end his praying,
like nurses piling blankets high
to dehydrate the damaged
in the name of mercy killing.
The pain,
o the pain,
throbbing,
throbbing,
with each beat of your heart,
each hard sought breath,
like the pain of the deserted,
lost in the wild lands,
aching,
bereft,
afraid to stir out in the day,
afraid of what men would do,
victims they cower,
victims of terror,
victim of rape,
victim of hunger,
scurrying out quick by night
seeing their children die
with no way to stop it,
like your mother in pain
standing there
watching each breath you take,
afraid of the last one,
dying inside
watching your death.
O Lord,
the pain,
O the pain,
you wrapped yourself around it,
accepted it,
tasted it,
drank it down to the last dregs,
and bore all the burden
of man’s too willing evil,
of man’s dark inhumanity
down to the pit of death,
walking each step with us,
walking each step along with us,
and accepted that last, lone breath,
that would shatter the chain.
Lord, in our grief,
hold us,
and tell us
as we unite with you,
as we live for you
you live for us,
and when the pain,
the last ache,
the last throb
is over and done,
you will take us
to where pain is banished.
Amen.
BTTT
Bump
You Are What You EatAs the Lord will have it, the brooks I've been visiting lately have spoken the same message to me. God is always speaking. May we always listen to his still, small voice, amen.
What to Feed Your Soul So that You Abound in HopeWe are hope-guzzling machines. We consume hope every day. If we run out of it, we become desperate. We must have hope. All the wonderful things that have happened to us in the past will not fuel our hope if our future looks bleak. We can be grateful for the past. But we must have hope for the future. It's what keeps us going.
When we're hopeful, the world is full of wonder and possibilities. We have drive and curiosity. We want as much life as we can get. We take on challenges and see adversity as something to be overcome.
But when we lose hope, the world becomes a fearful, threatening place, full of chaotic futility. Hopelessness saps us of energy and desire. It robs us of interest and appetite. We just want to curl up and protect our soul. We call it depression. The Bible calls it hopelessness.
So what do you do when you lose hope? Note the psalmist's prescription for his depression:
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?Hope in God. Three simple words, but what exactly do they mean? This verse gives us a clue:
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
~Psalm 43:5
It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone,God created us with bodies and souls. Both require sustenance for life. What energy is to the body, hope is to the soul. When our body needs energy, we eat food. But when our soul needs hope, how do "eat" God's words? We eat God's promises.
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
~Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4
A promise is a pledge of a good or better future for us. God's promises are what he pledges to be for us, do for us, and provide for us. Here is a powerful example of a promise God has used to feed saints throughout the ages and give them hope:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises for "all the promises of God find their Yes in him" (2 Corinthians 1:20). He is the very Word of God (Revelation 19:13), which is why he called himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35) for "whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (John 6:58). Jesus is the Source and Sustainer of our hope because without him we would not have a future.
plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.
~Jeremiah 29:11
What could possibly give more hope to our sinful souls than Jesus' promises of complete forgiveness of our sins, the removal of all of the Father's judgment and wrath against us, to always be with us (Matthew 28:20), and give us eternal life in God's presence with full joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11)? Nothing!
Now these are the "precious and very great promises" (2 Peter 1:4) that our souls are designed to be nourished by. However, our souls will actually digest any promise we feed them and try to convert it into hope. And here's the danger: the world and the devil are very aware that we feed our souls promises.
Have you noticed that every advertisement and every temptation to sin is a promise of happiness? If we eat them, we hope they will bring us the happiness they promise. But they are "junk food promises." They can never deliver the happiness our souls crave because we are designed to hope in God's promises.
What are your promise-eating habits? I mean, junk food promises are everywhere. They are often convenient and usually alluring, especially when you're hungry. They ruin your appetite for real promises. They deliver a fast buzz of false hope, but always disappoint because the buzz is followed by a hope-plunge into guilt, share, or emptiness.
The only way to break the habit of eating junk food promises is cultivating a taste for rich, nourishing, long-lasting, deeply satisfying, and true promises. And God freely gives us such promises to eat because he wants us to abound in hope:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,...
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
~Romans 15:13
We are, or will become, what we eat - what we feed our souls. We must take greater care in what we feed our souls than we do our bodies. Much, much more is at stake. Let's eat the bread of life so that we will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. For "he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
Feeding with you on God's precious and very great promises,
Jon Bloom
Executive Director
Desiring God Ministries
Excuse me, that should read "shame".
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